The Seventh of Life's Secret Ingredients (7 of 10 or more)

Serve!

Serving others ... fulfilling a need or a want.  This is something that comes with multiple rewards.  There is a tremendous feeling inside when you are able serve others.  There can also be financial rewards too.

Many of us "serve" just for the sake of giving back or contributing to our community. Such as volunteering at a soup kitchen, helping at church, raking an elderly neighbors leaves.  All of which are absolutely wonderful things.  (Remember not to expect anything in return for these)

But when you are being paid to do a job do you have the attitude of servant-hood?  Or, if you were to start a business is it only with the intent to make gobs and gobs of money?  There are many people that believe that if you are profiting from an endeavor then you couldn't possibly be serving.  I disagree ... this is when servant-hood is most important!

As proof I offer you the relate-able example of a waiter or waitress.  We've all had an experience at a restaurant where we were simply wowed by the waitstaff ... and sadly, examples of being underwhelmed also.

Waitperson #1: Has an attitude of servant-hood and wants your experience to be so memorable that you want to come back and ask for him or her.  He or she greets you promptly after being seated and discloses their top-secret name, offers up the specials of the day, takes your drink order and gives you a few minutes to look over the menu.  Upon their return with your drinks he/she asks if you are ready to order or have any questions and offers suggestions.  You order, you get your food, he/she returns periodically to make sure your drinks and other needs are taken care of.  When you are done eating he/she makes sure the table is cleared, without you feeling rushed and offers dessert ideas.  You say yes or no ... fast forward to when the bill arrives.  He/she says "my name again is and it's been my pleasure serving you today, I hope you've enjoyed your meal/experience, when you return (not if!) please ask for me I would love to wait on you again!"

Waitperson #2: Insert almost any other dining experience that you've ever had.

There is no comparison between Waitperson #1 and #2.  If the experience were the same, with the exception of the last line, you would still tip Waitperson #1 a lot more and you would definitely return to that restaurant (regardless of the food quality).  Not only did waitperson #1 give you great "service" ... they also told you that they loved "serving you".

Why not bring this attitude to everything you do?  Have a great day!

Dead weight or ballast?

Your friends, associates, spouses ... are they "dead weight" or are they "ballast?"

There's a difference between dead weight or excess baggage and ballast.

We all need ballast, just like a ship does.

But there's no place in our lives for dead weight.  Dead weight slows you down.  Dead weight keeps you from performing at your peak.  Dead weight wears you out.  When you face headwinds in life that dead weight will bring you to a dead stop ... maybe even make you go backwards.  Maybe it will send you in the wrong direction, down the wrong path.

I love this quote and I think I've used it before, Mark Mero said "your friends are like an elevator, they can bring you down or they can bring you up."  So very true!

The ones that bring you down (physically, spiritually, etc) are "dead weight"... jettison them!  Be polite ... but don't spend too much time with them.  You will develop their habits, mannerisms and vocabulary. 

Take some time, step back and take a look at your friends ... do you really want to be like them?  Separate your friends/associates into two categories ... the "dead weight" category and the "ballast" category.

The ones that bring you up belong in the "ballast" category ... they're not perfect.  But they can help you set the right course, sail straight, they bring you up.  They don't always have all the right answers ... but they care and they won't steer you wrong.

To quote a corny phrase, the ones in your "ballast" category will be "the wind beneath your wings."  They will lift you up.  They will help you focus.  They will help you "be all that you can be."

Have a great and blessed day!